8 Challenges to Being a Global Digital Nomad

There is an increasing number of people who are taking the advantage of working from remote places, while constantly travelling. While such a lifestyle may seem like a dream come true to many, there are certain challenges and obstacles, which need to be dealt with properly if you wish to make the most of being a digital nomad. Here are just eight of the challenges digital nomads face, regardless of their job or country they are currently in.


Choosing the right country

Being a digital nomad equally affects your lifestyle and work-style and the things you’re most excited about could easily be exactly the things that ruin the whole experience for you. When choosing the country you’d like to work from for a short period of time, make sure it has the infrastructure you need and that you don’t have to pay a lot of money for internet access. So, do your research before making any arrangements in order to be sure you can actually work from there. Also, consider your safety and crime rate in the region you’re planning to visit, since you want to avoid problems of that kind.


You might get lonely

Traveling around the world means that you won’t have enough time to form some deep friendships and you may easily find yourself in an unfamiliar town with no-one to talk to or spend time with. You need to be prepared for this scenario, since it’s a common feature of the life of a digital nomad. You can expect to make many acquaintances, but not that many friends, which means you need to be aware that there will be times when you’ll feel quite lonely.


Finding the right work-life balance

The same problem is experienced by those who don’t travel at all. We all strive to find that perfect balance, which will allow us to enjoy life and work enough to afford our lifestyle. However, with digital nomads, this problems is somewhat specific. Namely, you need to do a lot of planning, engage in problem-solving often and hone your self-management skills to perfection in order to achieve your goals.


Staying connected

Chances are your work will heavily rely on the Internet and you’ll need to have access to it at all times. That’s why it’s vital you check whether there is reliable Internet fiber connection, so that you never miss a deadline because you have no Internet access. Also, you’d want to stay connected with your friends and family at home.



You have to sort out visas, work permits and other paperwork that is required by the country you’re planning to travel to. Your stay has to be in compliance with all relevant laws, which is why you need to make sure you know what kind of paperwork you have to manage. Each country has a different idea of what constitutes taxable status, for example, and the same applies to your status of a “worker” or the length of your stay that can be approved.


Health insurance

One of the worst things that can happen to you while travelling is that you fall ill and need medical assistance. You mustn’t spend a single day without a medical insurance while abroad, so find the best comprehensive international medical insurance.


Keeping your equipment safe

Since digital nomads rely heavily on technology and their equipment, it’s important that their gear is well protected. One of the ways to protect it is to get all the equipment insured, so that you can recover the money for any item that gets lost, damaged or stolen. However, you’ll still lose a lot of precious time while waiting for the money, which is why prevention is the best cure. Keep your valuable equipment with you at all times or safely locked in a safe.


Local culture

You should really find out about the local culture of the place you’re going to visit. You don’t want to find yourself in uncomfortable situations or to insult the locals unintentionally because you don’t know enough about their culture. So, try to find out as much as possible about the region you’re visiting, the people and customs in the area.

As you can see, there are quite a few challenges waiting for digital nomads. However, if you approach them correctly and prepare well, you’ll be able to overcome them and enjoy all the wonderful benefits of travelling to new places, while still being able to make a decent living. 




About the author:

Fiona is a lifestyle blogger based in Melbourne, Australia. She’s in love with good coffee, croissants, and fashion magazines. In her spare time, she plays tennis and travels around the world. You can read more from her on her blog High Style Life.